Bikepacking Gear

Below is an overview of the most notable gear I bring on bikepacking trips. I left out the more personal items like clothing and toiletries since those will be highly personal and unique to every person and rider.

Bike & Components

I ended up choosing the Checkpoint because of price, weight, tire clearance and, least of all, looks.

Whisky No.9 30W rims combined with WTB Riddler 700x45c tubeless

After the release of the Shimano GRX groupset in 2019, I switched to a GRX rear derailleur, replacing the Shimano 105 that came stock.

I had the front wheel built up with a SONdelux Dyno Hub, to generate electricity while riding.

The Sinewave Revolution connects to the dynamo hub and lets you plug in devices to be charged via USB.

After some extensive research, I decided I would use a Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 (2020) as my primary bikepacking bike. I opted for the Trek Checkpoint because of its comparably reasonable price point, aluminum (and therefor rather lightweight) frame, decent tire clearance (for up to 45mm) and the Shimano 105 drivetrain to ensure reliable shifting quality. The 2021 models come with the Shimano GRX groupset, specifically tailored to gravel riding.

Instead of the stock wheels, I went for Whisky No.9 30W rims for weight considerations and to accommodate wider tires. The front wheel was built with a SONdelux Dynamo Hub to generate electricity while riding and paired with the Sinewave Cycles Revolution.

Tires

I started my bikepacking experience on the Checkpoint with the WTB Riddler. The knobs on the side provided great traction on rougher surfaces, whereas the center line made for lower rolling resistance on tarmac.

I switched to Vittoria Terreno Dry tires in New Zealand. Their appeal is the addition of graphene to aid with durability and performance.

The Schwalbe G-One Allround has a knobby profile all around, providing good traction on varying surface conditions.

Bontrager’s GR1 Team Issue tire has a similar profile to the G-One Allround. Good performance overall, however it couldn’t cope well with the sharp gravel during parts of my ride in South Africa.

Switched to the Panaracer Gravelking SK Plus in South Africa. So far, it seems to boast the best combination of durability and performance for my bikepacking efforts.

I wanted to optimize for all sorts of different terrains I could encounter while bikepacking, and my local bike shop recommended the WTB Riddler 700x45c (tubeless) for that purpose. My thinking was that the smoother center line would provide reduced rolling resistance on tarmac, but the wider profile and knobs on the sides decent traction on dirt and gravel roads. While the front tire lasted for close to 5000km, the rear tire had to be replaced about halfway through my ride through New Zealand.

At that point, I switched to Vittoria Terreno Dry 38c (tubeless). These were praised by a bike store in New Zealand, because of the addition of graphene improving durability and performance. I used them in the rear and had a great experience with them for the rest of New Zealand, my ride in Western Australia, and in Vietnam.

Lacking other options, I swapped the Vittoria for a Schwalbe G-One Allround in Taiwan, again for the rear tire. The small knobs provided decent grip on various surfaces, however after putting them to the test in Japan, Norway, Switzerland, and Austria, the knobs along the center were eventually worn down.

The Bontrager GR1 Team Issue (tubeless) provided a similar profile to the Schwalbe and used it for trips in Italy and Oman.

Halfway through my trip in South Africa, I encountered some rough and sharp gravel climbing up the switchbacks to Rooibergpass, which the Bontrager tire did not handle too well. I switched to Panaracer GravelKing SK Plus, 700×43 (tubeless), the GravelKing being one of the most popular tires in the gravel riding community. The Panaracer so far seems to possess an almost ideal combination of versatility and durability for medium to long bikepacking adventures.

Luggage/Storage

Apidura Expedition Saddle Pack, 17L. Holds camping items (tent, stove, sleeping mat) and other items not used during the day.

Apidura Expedition Compact Frame Pack, 3L. Used for easy access items like tools and spares, as well as any small snack items.

Apidura Expedition Handlebar Pack, 9L. Carried my sleeping bag and pjs.

Apidura Expedition Accessory Pocket Dry, 4.5L. Handy accessory pocked to hold easy to access items like wallet, passport and other documents and items.

Apidura Expedition Top Tube Bag, 1L. Another spot to store items that need to be accessed frequently during the day. I used it to carry an external battery.

Apidura Backcountry Food Pouch Plus, 1.2L. Mounted to the handlebars, stem and fork, it provides storage space for snack items or can also hold a full water bottle.

UK-based Apidura was one of the first companies producing bikepacking bags and is a well-trusted brand in the communities of bikepackers and ultradistance racers. I ended purchasing various luggage items from them, aiming to maximize available space. The packs and accessories I use are:

Additional space maximization by putting compactable items into this stash pack.

A zip-up tool case the size of a water bottle, ideal for holding various bike tools and spares.

I carried tubeless sealant, tire levers and various other tools and spares in the case.

Attempting to optimize frame space even further, I use additional items for storage and space optimization:

Bedrock Sinbad Stash Pack
West Biking Zip Case Tool Bag
ELITE Byasi Bicycle Tool Storage Bottle Storage bottle
Wolf Tooth B-RAD Mounting Base 2. Helps with using available space more efficiently by shifting the mount points.

Sleeping

The NEMO Hornet was more than sufficient for my one person sleeping needs. At 2 lb , 0 oz / 905 g it is also quite light.

comparing the packed Exped Air Pillow to the size of a bottle of sunscreen

The Exped Air Pillow packs quick compact.

Chose the Exped Air Pillow for additional sleeping comfort.

For weight and space consideration, the lighter the sleeping gear is and the smaller it packs, the better. Individual needs, especially with regards to tent size and warmth requirements, will dictate what to use.